Uyghur hand in blasts in China and Thailand

The August 12 blast in Tianjin, China, which killed 114 people, and the blast in Bangkok, Thailand, recently, was the handiwork of Chinese separatist Uyghur groups, and which the Chinese Government has been trying to hide, suggests a revealing story published in the Brussels-based European Parliament (EP).

New Delhi: The August 12 blast in Tianjin, China, which killed 114 people, and the blast in Bangkok, Thailand, recently, was the handiwork of Chinese separatist Uyghur groups, and which the Chinese Government has been trying to hide, suggests a revealing story published in the Brussels-based European Parliament (EP).

It seems clear from the EP Today story that the Chinese leadership may have thought there was something more than meets the eye with regard to the veracity of the chemical warehouse blast theory.

The fact that China has tasked the investigation to its head of Intelligence Services, who is the Senior Minister for Public Security, is a sure pointer that this was no industrial accident, but an act of terror, which has globally embarrassed China, says the Brussels based publication.

Beijing named Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun to supervise the investigation of the alleged chemicals warehouse blast instead of allowing a local official or someone centrally responsible for industrial safety to probe the matter.

According to EP Today, the Chinese Government is sensitive about anybody uttering the word Uyghur, and describes Uyghurs as terrorists who are to be criticised always. China also discourages its media from mentioning or publishing any report of a possible Uyghur involvement in the Tianjin blast. It also says that the fact that Tianjin has had a colony of Uyghurs for years must be kept under wraps and not highlighted.

EP Today says in its story that this particular aspect must remain a secret of the ruling Communist Party, and away from the eyes of the world.

China believes that acknowledging an Uyghur role in the Tianjin blast, would nullify President Xi Jinping's "strike hard campaign" against so-called rebels in the restive north-west province of Xinjiang.

So far, there has been a confused response to the incident and who is actually behind it. Local authorities have been prevented from investigating the incident too closely, and there is a clear order, "that the Centre must have a look first, decide what is true or the disseminated truth."

For example, on Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter, spoke of Uyghurs, but traces of such posts were removed almost immediately, as they wereÂ seen as "unauthorized thoughts proliferating cyber space" especially when the Chinese Government is in the process of drafting and finalizing a draconian Cyber Security Law.

When it comes to the recent explosion in a temple complex in Bangkok, Thailand, the EP Today story claims that there were reports in circulation that the bombing was retaliation for Thailand sending back 109 Uyghurs back to China a month ago.

It is also mentioned that the temple was targeted because it is frequented by Chinese nationals, and that the Uyghurs wanted to send an appropriate message across to the Chinese leadership that they could strike when they want and wherever they want.

The article concludes by saying that the problem that China now faces is that having played up the Uyghur threat for months, it is now confronted by a situation where it is natural to link the Tianjin and Bangkok blasts to them. A cover -up at this point of time risks further action from the Uyghurs, as Beijing is providing them with enough opportunities.